Cartel gang target Derek 'Del Boy' Hutch has been moved to a special protection wing of Wheatfield Prison because of renewed fears that he could be murdered on the orders of the Christy Kinahan mob.

'Del Boy' is just one of dozens of the extended Hutch gang whose lives are under threat from the Kinahan cartel in the wake of the assassination of David Byrne (34) at the Regency Hotel, and last night's murder in Ballybough.

The decision to move 'Del Boy' to a more secure area of Wheatfield Prison happened on Saturday, just hours after Friday's hotel bloodbath, which gardai believe was carried out in revenge for the murder of his brother Gary Hutch in Spain last September.

Convicted killer 'Del Boy' (31) has already survived two serious jail attacks since his brother was murdered, and sources say that there is intelligence that the cartel are determined to murder him behind bars.

Protection

It can also be revealed that two violent criminals, who attacked 'Del Boy' in Mountjoy Prison last year on behalf of the cartel, refused to take advice to move to a protection wing in that jail at the weekend.

Close associates of 'Del Boy' are suspected of being part of the six-man hit team that murdered Byrne and injured his two friends, Aaron Bolger (25) and Sean McGovern (30).

Daniel Kinahan (37), the son of cartel boss Christy Kinahan, was the chief target of Friday's attack, but he escaped unhurt.

The murders are part of a bitter feud that has been simmering between the two factions for over five months.

It escalated when Gary's uncle, Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch, refused to attend a meeting with the cartel.

The Hutch family

A major garda briefing, which involved senior detectives from across the capital, took place at Ballymun Garda Station yesterday, where it was decided that there will be an increase in armed checkpoints.

No arrests have yet taken place and gardai have not identified all those involved in the bloodbath, while it is understood there are no "imminent plans" to arrest any suspects.